Trump and Pence are scheduled to make their first joint appearance Saturday morning in NY.
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The theme music from the movie “Air Force One” blared over loudspeakers as a plane carrying Pence pulled up to a hangar at a suburban Indianapolis airport, mirroring Trump’s trademark campaign rally entrance.
America’s Most Orange Merkin opened today’s speech by spending a solid chunk of time talking about himself, which is a little unusual when you’re trying to introduce someone else to the nation, but fairly standard in the United States of Trump.
Pence, who endorsed Trump’s rival, fellow evangelical Ted Cruz, just ahead of the IN primary, said he is thrilled to be Trump’s running mate. Melissa Russo has reaction.
Pence went on to call Clinton “someone who literally personifies the failed establishment in Washington D.C”.
Trump even appeared self-aware that he had drifted far from what he wanted to discuss at one point, telling the audience, “All right, back to Mike Pence”. “It also is not realistic to think that some American businesses can operate without the workers who have made their way into our economy”, Pence said.
Republican U.S.presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) stands with Indiana Governor Mike Pence (L), as Trump family members look on after Pence was introduced as Trump’s vice presidential running mate in New York City, U.S., July 16, 2016.
Mr Trump’s decision to select Mr Pence was seen as a move to unify the Republican Party, which remains deeply divided in the wake of the NY real estate mogul’s primary victory. The supposed hype that outlets are reporting on are self-generated. “I don’t want to be an outsider”. “So many people have said: Party unity”. He introduced himself to the small crowd of invited guests – and, more importantly, viewers at home – describing himself as “a pretty basic guy: a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order”.
Trump touted Indiana’s falling unemployment rate and said that Pence would help his campaign and his potential administration protect the freedom of speech of religious institutions.
“I am very supportive of Donald Trump’s call to temporarily suspend immigration from countries where terrorist influence and impact represents a threat to the United States”, Pence said, even though he had previously tweeted that Trump’s original call for a ban on almost all foreign Muslims “offensive and unconstitutional”.
For 15 minutes, Indiana Governor Mike Pence captivated an audience still trying to figure him out.
Pence had support from top Trump aides who said he would win favor from the conservative Republican base, helping unite the party.
Throughout the press conference, the two men showered each other with compliments.
Speaking at a rally on Saturday, Trump said he chose Pence as his running mate to boost party unity. But his hard-line ideology is also at odds with Trump, who has largely avoided discussion of social issues.
Mr Pence is well known for his strong socially-conservative credentials.
There appeared to be as many Trump supporters as journalists in attendance at the announcemetn, as the businessman’s backers filled five rows of seats in a Hilton ballroom that was not expanded to its full size.
It was enough of a muddle for Hillary Clinton’s campaign to leap into action and draw attention to what they cast as Trump’s apparent wavering.
Trump had spent weeks vetting vice presidential contenders, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and only zeroed in on Pence in recent days.
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The Indiana governor has been a longtime advocate of trade deals such as NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, both aggressively opposed by Trump.
